Apparatus for resurfacing



April 6, 1943. J. Y. BLAZEK ET AL APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING Filed Jan. 15, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N 6 wk Q mm mm M:

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. ATTOR/VE Y6.

April 6, 1943.

J. Y. BLAZEK ET AL APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING s Sfieets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1941 April 9 J. Y. BLAZEK ETAL I 2,315,891 APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING I Filed Jan. 15, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I07 VIWBWW mvsmoas. Y 1475" 9 Mm YBlaze/f, Gilbert E Sea): an! lnmlifiay. I 1 Go 0 I I I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 APPARATUS FOR RESURFACING John Y. Blazek, Bedford, and Gilbert E. Sears and Vernon R. Roy, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Lempco Products, 1110., Bedford, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,508

Claims.

This invention relates generally as indicated to a device for resurfacing articles, but has reference more particularly to a device adapted for resurfacing large, plane surfaces, such as the gasket engaging surfaces of motor blocks, motor heads, and the like.

Apparatus for performing the above-described function has heretofore been provided and, broadly speaking, falls into three categories. The first category contains apparatus equipped with a large abrasive wheel or disc substantially the size of the surface to be resurfaced, such surface being maintained in contact with a horizontally disposed radial face of the wheel. The second category comprises apparatus equipped with a rotating endless abrasive bearing belt which is maintained in contact with the surface to be resurfaced. lhe third category consists of apparatus provided with a stationary or rotatable endless abrasive bearing belt which is constantly maintained in contact with the surface to be resurfaced, such surface being mechanically actuated with respect to the base.

The present invention is directed more or less to apparatus falling within the first category. One of the objections to such apparatus is that heretofore they have not had incorporated therein suitable means for supplying a coolant, such as water or the like. The coolant supplying means heretofore available can be described as a conventional nozzle which squirted or directed a stream of coolant to the abrasive surface from a point spaced therefrom. Coolant supplied in this manner is quickly and almost immediately thrown off the wheel by centrifugal and other forces which are set up by the wheel. When the circumference of the radial face of the wheel is of such size that it embraces substantially the entire area of an average vehicular motor block, it being noted that extremely large wheels are impractical for reasons which will now be presently elucidated, then it is impractical to introduce coolant at or adjacent the axis of the wheel. The reason for this is that the axis is obstructed by the motor block. 'I'nus, it follows that the coolant must be introduced at a point remote from the axis and it also follows that there is a definite want or shortage of coolant in an area defined by the projection of the motor block. One of the foremost objects of this invention has been to provide a. device of the character described having incorporated therein improved means for supplying a coolant to all or substantially all of the abrasive surface in contact with a surface to be resurfaced. Another object of the present invention has been to provide means as above noted which prevent objectionable splashing, scattering or spraying of the coolant.

Another objection to heretofore known apparatus falling within category one is that such apparatus has been provided with unsuitable or with no means for guiding a motor block to the abrasive surface, for guiding the motor block while it is being abraded, and finally for guiding the motor block away from the abrasive surface. Another of the foremost objects of the present invention has been to incorporate in a device of the character described highly improved guiding means for the purposes above set forth, such guiding means being adjustable.

Another and further object of this invention has been to provide a device as above set forth which is rigid in construction, simple in operaticn, easily and rapidly adjusted, and capable of economically producing large plane surface on weighty and bulky articles.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a device having incorporated therein the principal features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially cut-away side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged partially sectional and partially fragmentary views of certain elements seen in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View of a device having incorporated therein the principal features of a modification of our invention;

Fig, 7 is a section taken on the line l'! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a device having incorporated therein the principal features of another modification of this invention; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

With reference now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and'2 thereof, it will be seen that our device comprises a base or frame spindle and out it! the upper portion of which is provided with a pair of recesses ll having longitudinally extending sidewalls l2 and transversely extending end walls l3, the latter being cut away as at l4 for providing clearance for an article as will hereinafter appear. The entire frame structure may be integral or may be fabricated, the latter being illustrated. Separating these recesses is an an nular flange I! which extends upwardly from the bottom of the recesses for encircling an abrasive element. Each of the end walls and the recess adjacent portion of the flange is provided with a pair of spaced bosses l8 and [9 respectively for supporting bars as will hereinafter appear.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that there is disposed for rotation within the flange l'l, an abrading element or wheel indicated generally by the reference character 20. This wheel may be a conventional grinding wheel connected directly to a spindle proper, but we prefer to provide an annular plate 22 having suitably secured thereto, preferably removable as by bolts, bonded abrasive material 23. This plate is secured as by bolting to an adapter 24 which is keyed or otherwise suitably non-rotatably carried by a spindle 25. The frame is provided with a pair of spaced rigidifying webs 26 which are provided with co-axial bores for accommodating a bearing block 28 to which the spindle is suitably journalled. For securing the bearing block in position there is secured, as by bolting to the upper web 26 and similarly secured to the bearing block, a ring 30, the opening of which along with a recess in the bearing block accommodates an outer race of ball bearing 32, the inner race of which embraces the spindle. The adapter 24 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow boss 34 the bottom of which rests against the top of the inner race, the thrust type for counteracting downward forces. The outer race is maintained in place by a cap 35 which is suitably secured to the ring- 30 as by interconnecting threads or by bolting. For counteracting upward forces, there is interposed between the lower portion of the bearing block and the spindle, a thrust ball bearing 31 which is maintained in place by a cap 38, the latter being suitably secured as by bolting to the bearing block. For rotating the spindle, there is suitably non-rotatably carried thereby a pulley provided with a pair of belt receiving surfaces, one for receiving a driving belt 4| and the other for receiving a belt 42 which drives a pump as will now appear.

The spindle has extending therethrough an opening 45 the lower end of which is supplied with a coolant through a stuffing box 46 which is maintained against rotation by means of a suitable intake pipe 41. For preventing frictional and coolant losses, means, such as fiber washer 48, may be interposed between the stufling box and the bottom of the spindle. The above referred to pump pumps coolant from a reservoir,

the ball bearing being of which in the instant case is the space between.

the Webs 28, to the intake pipe 41 wherefrom it flows upwardly through the opening 45 of the of the upper end thereof. The coolant returns through the space between the abrasive wheel and the opening 49 in the upper web. For preventing the returned coolant from adversely affecting the journalled surfaces, the lower outer portion of the adapter 24 is provided an annular recess or groove which accommodates an annular upwardly 5| of the ring 30. For a similar 75 extending flange flange I1 and through an ,7

purpose there is threaded to the lower portion of the bearing block a nut 53 which urges suitable gasket or packing material 54 against the bottom web and the bearing block.

We have found that when coolant is supplied to the opening 45 of the spindle in quantities sufficient to suitably affect the abrasive Wheel and the surface being abraded, then such coolant is objectionably and rapidly thrown off. When the diameter of an abrasive wheel suitable for abrading the gasket engaging surface of an average motor block M and the angular velocity of the abrasive wheel are borne in mind, it will be readily understood that the magnitude of centrifugal force is very great. In other words, if in Fig. 3 there were one continuous or substantially continuous surface defined by a smooth curve of large radius of curvature or by a straight line, the same extending from the upper end of the opening 45 to the outer periphery of the abrasive wheel, then coolant supplied in such quantity as is normally considered adequate would, under the present conditions, be centrifugally thrown off so rapidly and violently that there would be no satisfactory cooling result.

Assuming such surface to be smooth and continuous, as above described, coolant supplied to the opening 45 flows out of the top thereof and onto such surface, Due to the rotating of this surface, the coolant, in the presence or absence of a motor block, commences rotating and centrifugal force builds up, causing the coolant to travel outwardly at a constantly and at first gradually accelerating velocity. But the radius of the wheel is large and the coefiicient of friction between the coolant and the abrasive material is high and before the coolant travels outwardly very far, centrifugal force is sufl'iciently great as compared to the tendency of the coolant to cling to the abrasive material, that the coolant is thrown off in more or less of a true and fixed tangential direction than in a more or less spiral or constantly changing tangential direction.

However, we have found that by providing a sudden interruption 58 in the surface which extends from the opening 45 to the outer periphery of the abrasive wheel and by properly locating such sudden interruption, the coolant will not be rapidly nor violently thrown off the abrasive wheel and that a very satisfactory cooling resuit can be had by a quantity of coolant which, in the absence of such sudden interruption, would produce a totally unsatisfactory result. This interruption, it will be noted, provides such surface with an inwardly extending circular generally axially directed formation which is coaxial with the spindle and opening 45. It will also be noted that this outward velocity increases as the coolant passes over the interruption, the thought being to maintain this velocity below an objectionable maximum at all times. After the coolant is beyond the interruption, the velocity increases. Such increase, decrease and increase holds true in the presence or absence of a motor block. We therefore locate the interruption at a point spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the radial face so that somewhere between the termination of the opening 45 and such periphery the outward vector of the coolant velocity will be reduced to substantially zero.

In Fig. 3 the interruption is in the form of an axial opening extending through the abrasive material 23 and we have shown this opening to be partially occupied by a suitable annular block 59 of wood or other material. Thus the block is of a radius smaller than the radius of the opening constituting the abruption, is of a thickness less than the thickness of the abrasive material 23 and is not rigidly maintained, but is merely maintained in position by gravity. When such a block is employed, it is provided with an cpemng 60 in communication with the opening 45. In the presence of such a block, some of the coolant flows between the block and the plate 22 and some of it flows through the opening 60 of the block, but all of it must flow or pass over the interruption 58.

The above indicated means for guiding an article to and away from the abrasive wheel will now be described, reference being made to Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5. Such means are preferably disposed in one and the same plane which is parallel to and preferably spaced slightly below, such as a couple of thousandths of an inch, the plane of the radial space of the abrasive wheel. In the drawings we have shown such means in the form of rollers 65, but it will be understood that such form has been selected because of low friction and that a straight edge can be substituted for each of the rollers or that a plane surface can be substituted on each side of the abrasive wheel instead of the rollers, as will hereinafter more fully appear. These rollers are supported by longitudinally extending bars 66 which in turn are supported by the bosses l8 and I9. It will be noted that each of the aboveset-forth elements which are provided with such bosses are provided with a pair of such bosses and that the members of each of such pairs are transversely spaced so that the bars 66 are transversely spaced and longitudinally extending. These bars present annular slideways provided with a longitudinally extending fiat portion 61. Bridging each of the pairs of bars and slidable along said slideways is a pair of brackets 69 each of which is provided with suitable means, such as a set screw, for locking the brackets to the bars.

As is better seen in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the brackets is provided with a vertically bored boss 10 which is disposed outwardly of the bars for slidably accommodating an upwardly extending post I I. The posts are axially bored and slidably as at 13 and threadingly as at 1'4 accommodate a pin 16, the threaded portion of which projects upwardly beyond the post and is provided with a lock nut l"! and the lower portion of which engages the bottom of the bore of the boss. Thus by screwing the pin 16 up or down with respect to the post I I, the latter will be raised or lowered with respect to the boss. Suitable means, such as set screws l8, may project through the bosses l and engage the posts ll for maintaining the latter locked with respect to the former. Suitably secured to the upper portion of each post,

'as by means of a taper pin 19, is a block 8|, the

blocks of each of the brackets being pivotally connected as at 82 to a tie bar 83 so that such blocks may pivot about a longitudinally extending axis, but are otherwise locked against movement with respect to each other.

These blocks rotatably support the rollers, and for this purpose the blocks each have extending therethrough a transverse opening, the inner portion 85 of which is enlarged, the mid-portion 86 of which constitutes a slideway, and the outer portion 81' of which is threaded. A straight shank center 88 projects through this opening with the point of the center in the enlarged portionv a5 and. the straight shank of the center 73 slidably engaging the portion 86. A threaded plug 89 abuts the outer end of the center and engages the threaded portion 81, suitable means being provided for locking the plug to the block such as nuts 90. The ends of the rollers project within the enlarged portion and are provided with a shoulder, suitable means such as packing 9| being provided between the rollers and the blocks for preventing seepage of coolant and grit. The ends of the rollers are provided with center holes for engagement with the points of the centers.

For guiding the motor block as it passes over the abrasive wheel, suitable means are provided such as a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced parallel bars 94 supported by suitable arms 95, the latter being slidably engaged by openings in the sides of the frame. For locking the arms and consequently the bars 94 with respect to the frame, suitable means such as set screws 96 may be employed. For insuring against splashing or spraying of coolant, suitable guard plates 98 may be carried by the bars 94 and bridge such bars, the arms and the sides of the frame.

In setting up a device incorporating this in vention for grinding a motor block or the like, the upper radial face of the abrasive wheel is first dressed and then a straight edge is laid across such face so as to project over the rollers. The rollers are spaced longitudinally so that the motor block constantly contacts at least one of the rollers and then the rollers are adjusted vertically by manipulation of the pins l6 until the rollers are spaced desirably with respect to the said surface of the abrasive wheel. This spacing can be accurately controlled by the use of a feeler gauge. The guide bars 94 are then adjusted so as to be equally spaced from the axis of the abrasive wheel and also so as to provide some clearance between such bars and the motor block. The motor block M is then preferably manually actuated towards the abrasive wheel by means of rolling the rollers and passed into abrading relationship with the abrasive wheel and onto the rollers of the other side of the abrasive wheel. This process of passing the motor block over the abrasive wheel maybe continued by a reciprocating motion from the rollers on one side to the rollers on the other side until the surface being resurfaced has been completely trued-up.

Where the surface to be resurfaced is substantially a plane surface but is somewhat tilted transversely with respect to its original position, the axis of the rollers may be tilted from the horizontal by adjusting the various pins 16 so that solely or chiefly the objectionable portion of such surface is removed. Thereupon the axis of the rollers may be set in horizontal position and the resurfacing operation may proceed as above setforth.

It will be understood that the present invention is adapted for resurfacing surfaces of articles other than motor blocks even. though the greatest distance acrosssuch surface be lessthan the diameter of the abrasive wheel, advantage being taken of our unique manner and means for supplying coolant.

In Figs. 6 and 7 we have shown. a modification of the abrasive wheel employed in the above description. In this modification the radial face is continuous from substantially the axis of rotation to the outer periphery thereof and is provided with a plurality of concentric grooves I05,

the outer axial walls I06 of which function in a manner similar to that of the above described interruption 58 of the preferred form. These walls are so spaced and of such depth that the coolant does not acquire an objectionably high outward velocity. Since the area of the radial face varies as the square of the radius, it follows that the greater the radius, the less the quantity of coolant per unit area. It is known that the greater the radius, the greater the centrifugal force. For these reasons the above grooves are wider and shallower as the radius becomes larger. Coolant flows through the opening 45 of the spindle and through an axial opening H11 onto the face of the wheel.

A further modification of the abrasive wheel which is part of this invention is seen in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the upper radial face of the wheel is continuous or without an annular interruption between the axis of rotation to the outer periphery. In this form of our invention the adapter 24 is hollow 'as at I I and communicates with the opening 45 of the spindle 25 so that coolant flows into the hollow interior of the adapter and upwardly through a plurality of openings III which extend through both the abrasive material and the plate 22 and which are circumferentially spaced about the axis of rotation. It will be obvious that when the coolant reaches the upper edge of these openings, its outward velocity will be zero. In this form of our invention the diameter of the circle about which the openings H0 are spaced may be substantially the same as the diameter of the opening which constitute the abutment 58 of the preferred form of our invention. The central portion of the wheel may be provided with coolant by virtue of a small axial opening H2 which establishes communication between such portion and the opening 45 of the spindle.

We have described only the differences between the various forms of our invention, it being understood that any form may be substituted for another form and that similar reference characters identify similar parts throughout.

, Other forms may be employed embodying the features of our invention instead of the one herein explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by our preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. The combination of a roller and means for adjustably supporting said roller comprising a base having a bore therein, a post slidable in said bore and having a threaded opening, a threaded pin adapted for engaging the threads of said opening and having one end thereof in engagement with the bottom of said bore, and a block carried by said post for supporting said roller. i

2. The combination of a base, an abrasive element rotatably supported by said base, a pair of members adjustably carried by said base, a pair of center elements one carried by one of said members and the other carried by the other of said members, and a roller the ends of which are provided with center openings adapted for engaging said center element, said roller being adapted for guiding an article into abrading relation with said abrasive element.

3. The combination of a base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, means for supplying coolant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in contact with said surface, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface and a plurality of rollers disposed to the other side of said surface whereby an article to be abraded can be passed from one of said plurality of rollers between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers.

4. A base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting an upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, a pair of bars disposed over said surface, means interconnectin said bars and said base whereby said bars are maintained parallel and whereby the distance between said bars may be adjusted, a roller the upper surface of which is substantially in theplane of said surface for guiding an article to said abrasive surface, whereby'an article can be passed by said roller onto said surface and spinning of said article while in contact with said surface will be prevented by said bars.

5. The combination of a roller and means for adjustably supporting said roller comprising a base having a bore therein, a post slidable in said bore, means for causing said post to slide with respect to said bore, means for locking said post with respect to said bore, said roller having at an end thereof a center hole, and a center carried by said post, adapted for engaging said opening and adjustable with respect to said post in the general direction of the axis of said roller.

6. The combination of a base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, means for supplying coolant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in con- :tact with said surface, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface and a plurality of rollers disposedto the other side of said surface whereby an article to be abraded can be passe'd from one of said plurality of rollers between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers, means for slidably supporting each roller at each end for independent vertical adjustment and means for moving said slidable supporting means.

'7. The combination of a base, an abrasive Wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, means for supplying coolant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in contact with said surface, spaced slideways extending longitudinally 'of the frame on opposite sides of the wheel, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface on the spaced slideways and a plurality of rollers disposed to the other side of said surface on said slideways whereby an article to be abraded can be passed from one of said plurality of rollers, between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers and means for independently adjusting each end of each roller.

8. The combination of a base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, means for supplying coolant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in contact with said surface, spaced slideways extending longitudinally of the frame on opposite sides of the wheel, a plurality of bridges extending between the slideways on opposite sides of said surface transversely of the frame and slidably mounted on the slideways, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface on the bridges and a plurality of rollers disposed to the other side of said surface on said bridges whereby an article to be abraded can be passed from one of said plurality of rollers, between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers and means for slidably adjusting each end of each roller.

9. The combination of a base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapted for abrading an article, means for supplying c001- ant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in contact with said surface, spaced slideways extending longitudinally of the frame on opposite sides of the wheel, a plurality of bridges extending between the slideways on opposite sides of said surface transversely of the frame and slidably mounted on the slideways, means for independently adjusting each bridge on either side of the wheel with reference to the wheel and to each other, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface on the bridges and a plurality of rollers disposed to the other side of said surface on said bridges whereby an article to be abraded can be passed from one of said plurality of rollers, between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers and means for slidably adjusting each end of each roller. 7

10. The combination of a base, an abrasive wheel rotatably carried thereby and presenting a horizontally disposed upper radial surface adapt" ed for abrading an article, means for supplying coolant to said surface by passing coolant through said wheel, a pair of parallel bars disposed over said wheel for guiding an article which is in contact with said surface, spaced slideways extending longitudinally of the frame on opposite sides of the wheel, a plurality of bridges extending between the slideways on opposite sides of said surface transversely of the frame and slidably mounted on the slideways, posts on each end of each bridge, blocks carried by said posts and vertically adjustable therewith, means for independ ently vertically adjusting said posts, a plurality of rollers disposed to one side of said surface and freely, rotatably mounted on the blocks at one side of said surface and a plurality of rollers disposed to the other side of said surface and freely, rotatably mounted on the blocks at said other side of said surface, whereby an article to be abraded can be passed from one of said plurality of rollers, between said bars and in contact with said surface and finally onto the other of said plurality of rollers.

JOHN Y. BLAZEK.

GILBERT E. SEARS.

VERNON R. ROY; 

